Women's Soccer Remains Undefeated in MAC with Tie Against Miami

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan women’s soccer
team battled visiting Miami to a scoreless draw Friday at the WMU Soccer
Complex to remain undefeated in Mid-American Conference play. The
Broncos are 4-0-1 through five league contests and 6-3-3 overall on the
season. The record is the best MAC start for the program since the 2000
season, in which WMU also opened up 4-0-1.

Senior net minder Michelle Watson
made five stops in goal to give her 198 career saves. It was the 23rd
career clean sheet for WMU’s all-time shutout leader. The result was the
Broncos’ third shutout in as many games and the seventh for the team
this season.

The game was largely a defensive battle, as neither
side saw very few scoring opportunities. WMU’s best look came in the
58th minute, when Rachel Chaney
found herself alone at the top of the box. She fired a curling shot low
left, but Miami’s Allison Norenberg made the diving save to her right.

Watson
came through with a couple of key grabs in the first overtime to stifle
the RedHawks. At the start of the extra period, she pulled down a
well-placed corner ball, stretching out and falling backwards. Two
minutes later, she knocked down a bullet from Kayla Zakrzewski that
easily could have been the golden goal for Miami.

Statistically,
the match was nearly even. Both teams took eight shots, Miami putting
five on goal and WMU landing three. MU (5-6-2, 2-1-2 MAC) also held a
slight edge on corner kicks, 6-5. Chaney had three shots for the
Broncos, including two on goal.

“It was two good teams that went head to head today,” said WMU head coach Nate Norman.
“I thought we did a very good job defensively on their attacking
players. Offensively, I thought we did some nice things, but the scoring
chances just weren’t there. Maybe on another day we finish the few we
did have.”

Western Michigan returns to action Sunday, hosting
MAC West rival Ball State. The Cardinals have the best overall record in
the conference at 9-3-1 and sit second behind WMU in the division
standings with a 4-1-0 mark.